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A Case of Cunninghamella bertholettiae Rhino-cerebral Infection in a Leukaemic Patient and Review of Recent Published Studies

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Abstract

Cunninghamella bertholletiae infection occurs most frequently in neutropenic patients affected by haematological malignancies, is associated with an unfavourable outcome. We report a case of rhino-mastoidal fungal infection in a leukaemic patient. Bioptical tissue cultures yield the isolation of a mould with typical properties of Cunninghamella species. Liposomal amphotericin B (L-Amb) therapy combined with surgical intervention brought the lesion to recovery. Nevertheless, the patient died 14 days after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from bacterial sepsis. Mastoiditis was documented at CT-scan. The conditioning regimen probably caused the reactivation of the Cunninghamella infection that led to the patient’s fatal outcome; fungal hyphae were detected after autopsy of brain and lung tissue.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, S. Martino Hospital, University of Genoa School of Medicine, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    E. Righi, V. Lindstrom, C. Viscoli & M. Bassetti

  2. Section of Microbiology, S. Martino Hospital, University of Genoa School of Medicine, Genoa, Italy

    C. G. Giacomazzi, O. Soro, M. Perotti & O. E. Varnier

  3. Division of Haematology, S. Martino Hospital, University of Genoa School of Medicine, Genoa, Italy

    A. Albarello, M. Miglino & M. Gobbi

Authors
  1. E. Righi
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  2. C. G. Giacomazzi
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  3. V. Lindstrom
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  4. A. Albarello
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  5. O. Soro
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  6. M. Miglino
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  7. M. Perotti
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  8. O. E. Varnier
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  9. M. Gobbi
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  10. C. Viscoli
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  11. M. Bassetti
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Correspondence to E. Righi.

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Righi, E., Giacomazzi, C.G., Lindstrom, V. et al. A Case of Cunninghamella bertholettiae Rhino-cerebral Infection in a Leukaemic Patient and Review of Recent Published Studies. Mycopathologia 165, 407–410 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-008-9098-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-008-9098-z

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